Do you have to pay for services at public clinics?
The public health care system in Calgary, as in the entire province of Alberta, operates through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), which provides coverage for medically necessary services for residents who meet the program's eligibility criteria. Let's take a closer look at which services are provided free of charge and which ones require payment.
Free services at public clinics
If you are an Alberta resident and have an AHCIP card, the following services are provided free of charge:
- Medically necessary services from doctors and specialists
- Diagnostic services, including laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures
- Medically necessary surgical procedures
- Standard hospital stay and meals
- Use of operating rooms, radiotherapy and anesthesiology facilities
- Psychiatric consultations
- Maxillofacial surgery services
Services covered partially
Some services are only partially covered by AHCIP:
- Podiatry services (foot care)
- Ophthalmology services (for persons under 18 and over 65)
- Certain specific dental and oral surgery services
Services not covered
The following services at public clinics in Calgary are not covered:
- Dental services (cleaning, fillings, tooth extraction)
- Eye exams for individuals aged 19-64 (unless medically necessary)
- Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser vision correction
- Alternative medicine services (chiropractic, massage, naturopathy)
- Psychological services
- Prescription drugs outside of a hospital
- Emergency services (except transfers between medical facilities)
- Medical certificates, form filling, and other administrative services
Cost of services without AHCIP insurance
If you do not have AHCIP insurance, the cost of medical services in Calgary can be significant:
- Family doctor consultation: $45-120
- Complete medical examination: $120-180
- Medical assessment for non-residents of Canada: $70-300
- Specialist consultation: $200-600
- Emergency room visit: $400-1200 and up
Who is eligible for AHCIP
The following individuals are eligible for free medical care through AHCIP:
- Permanent residents of Alberta who are legally present in Canada
- Individuals who are physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days during any 12-month period
- Individuals who do not receive medical benefits in other provinces, territories, or countries
Waiting period for new residents
There is a waiting period before new Alberta residents are eligible for AHCIP coverage:
- Coverage begins on the first day of the third month after establishing residency in Alberta
- For example, if you established permanent residence in Alberta on July 12, your coverage will begin on October 1
- The waiting period is waived for military families
Conclusion
If you are an Alberta resident and have an AHCIP card, most medically necessary services at public clinics in Calgary are provided free of charge. However, there are a number of services that are not covered or are only partially covered and will have to be paid for. It is important for new residents to consider the waiting period before receiving AHCIP coverage and to consider purchasing private insurance for this period.